K. This is the 1st working draft of vol. VI. It still ... - From Marx to Mao

MAO’S INTERVIEW WITH GUNTHER STEIN
of opinion within our ranks. But they are always solved in democratic
way, by discussion and analysis of the problems in question.
If a minority is still not convinced of the correctness of a majority
decision, it submits to it after thorough debates in Party meetings.
The decisive factor in our work is that we always find out which of
our policies the masses of the people accept and which they criticize
or reject. Only, policies which prove popular with the masses
become and remain the policies of our Party.
“At the time of the introduction of a new measure there may be
people inside and outside the Party who do not quite understand it.
But in the course of the execution of any measure a united opinion
of an overwhelming majority inside and outside the Party is invari-
FROM MARX
TO MAO
ably formed, because our Party organizations are always watching
⋆
out for popular reaction, and because we modify our measures continuously
according to the actual needs and opinions of the
people. All Party organizations, from the top to bottom, are held to
observe our vital principle of not separating ourselves from the
masses of the people but of being in closest harmony with their needs
and wishes.
“The correctness of any of our policies has always to be tested
and is always being tested by the masses themselves. We ourselves
constantly examine our own decisions and policies. We correct our
mistakes whenever we NOT find them. FOR We draw conclusions from all
positive and negative experiences and apply those conclusions as
widely as possible. In these ways relations between the Communist
Party and the masses COMMERCIAL
of the people are constantly being improved.”
Mao Tse-tung had arrived at his favorite topic, his constant demand
on all Party members to observe what he calls the “mass viewpoint”
in all their decisions and actions. He spoke with enthusiasm.
“This is the most DISTRIBUTION
fundamental point. If the leading elements of
a political party are really working for the interests of the broad
masses of the people, and if they are sincere in this endeavor, they
have unlimited opportunities of listening to the opinions of the
people.
“We listen to the people. Through the media of popular meetings
in villages, towns, districts, regions, and everywhere in our territories;
through individual conversations between Party members
and men and women of all strata of the population; through special
conferences, newspapers, and the telegrams and letters we receive
from the people — through all this we can, and do, always find out
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